The next time you open your car door from the driver's seat, try using your right hand. It's how people in the Netherlands do it. And if one cyclist in Boston has his way, the entire US will soon be using the "Dutch Reach."

Hurricane Sandy devastated lower Manhattan. But rebuilding New York’s waterfront has been complicated. If you were in Europe, the buildings on the lower Manhattan coastline might not have been rebuilt. That’s because European cities vulnerable to flooding have learned to live with it, putting parks next to coastlines that sometimes overflow.

A swarm of international political enthusiasts are in New Hampshire for the primary. Willem Post is a Dutch academic who hasn’t missed a Granite State primary since the beginning of the ‘90s. He loves the whole experience and says the excitement, the intimacy and the scenery make the poll in the New Hampshire resemble ‘a fairy tale.’ He also wants Americans to understand the global significance of the vote.

A sense of mutual distrust has descended upon Amsterdam’s Muslim and Jewish communities. Anti-Semitic attacks are on the rise and Jewish institutions are now guarded by police. Despite this, two activists — one Jewish, and one Muslim — have found common ground, and friendship, though not without personal cost.

Santa Claus arrived in the Netherlands over the weekend, or rather "Sinterklaas," as he's known there. He doesn't come with elves, though. Instead, he has a sidekick called "Black Pete," who wears blackface, red lipstick and a wig. For some, he's a beloved Dutch tradition. For others, "Black Pete" is just plain racist.

The Dutch have the oldest and largest Obama fan club in Europe, according to an analyst there. The reason? He stands for diversity and cooperation with Europe —and the Dutch get his problems with the Tea Party.

The next time you open your car door from the driver's seat, try using your right hand. It's how people in the Netherlands do it. And if one cyclist in Boston has his way, the entire US will soon be using the "Dutch Reach."

An official investigation by Dutch authorities has concluded that Malaysia Airlines flight 17 was shot down over Ukraine last year by a Russian-made missile. But it didn't determine who fired it. That hasn't stopped the story being spun in Russia.